Welcome to The Women's Sexual Health Foundation.

Founded in April of 2003, The Women's Sexual Health Foundation (TWSHF) is a nonprofit corporation. TWSHF supports a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of sexual health issues and serves as an educational resource for both the lay public and healthcare professionals.

TWSHF News

THE WOMEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH FOUNDATION MAKES MAJOR TRANSITION

As the year comes to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our readers and all of you who have volunteered at TWSHF. We accomplished much over the past year, including an education event for the public that was held in New York City with The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department that was a great success. TWSHF submitted written testimony to the National Institute of Health's Office of Research on Women's Health and presented at a Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. on Female Sexual Health. Other past accomplishments include an award winning web site and blog, a total of twenty-one quarterly journal issues and four educational brochures in three languages. Plus, TWSHF was the 2005 recipient of the Elaine Boynton Memorial Award which was given annually by Speaking of Women’s Health, a national women's foundation.

There is no doubt, as an all-volunteer foundation, we truly have advanced the education of women and healthcare providers.

I also wanted to inform you that our Board of Directors has decided to transfer all of TWSHF’s assets to the National Vulodynia Association, and to dissolve TWSHF as an ongoing concern. This decision was made after careful review of all the resources that are necessary to continue and grow as a foundation.

The press release detailing this transition may be viewed here.

I will continue to be involved in the area of women’s health, and I recently completed reviewing and editing the 7th Edition of the Breast Cancer Treatment Handbook.

Stay In Charge of Your Health,

Lisa Martinez
Founder TWSHF

Women's Sexual Health Journal

Women’s Sexual Health Journal Latest Issue

Sadly this is the last issue of the Women's Sexual Health Journal. Thank you to all who have volunteered their support and contributed articles. Instead we will be placing more of a focus on our award winning blog site and encourage all of you to contact us if interested in being a guest blogger. Whether you are a healthcare professional or a woman who has struggled with sexual health difficulties, we invite you to be a guest blogger.

This issue of the journal is all about the pelvic floor and vulvodynia. The article “Female Sexual Dysfunction and Physical Therapy” by Stephanie Lutz, DPT and Amy Stein, MPT will help to enlighten readers on how physical therapy can resolve FSD. Further enlightenment comes from material reprinted from Amy Stein’s book Heal Pelvic Pain: The Proven Stretching, Strengthening, and Nutrition Program for Relieving Pain, Incontinence, IBS, and Other Symptoms without Surgery. Stein describes the role of the pelvic floor and what can happen when the muscle tone is too high. She provides excellent solutions to these challenging problems.

Finally , Marjorie Green, MD, MPH, Instructor Harvard Medical, Director of Mt. Auburn Menopause and Sexual Medicine Institute has written about a topic that many women are very unfamiliar with, Vulvodynia. Up to 15% of women suffer from this and often do not know where to turn for help. Dr. Green can help women understand more about Vulvodynia.

Click here for the latest issue - July 2009

Cancer and Sexuality please click here.

Results From Sexual Health Discussion Survey

TWSHF would like to thank all of you who participated in our Sexual Health Discussion Survey. For some of you the results may not be surprising, and yet others may be encouraged by them.

Click here to read the results of the Survey: Discussing FSD with Your Health Care Provider.

Knowledge of Cancer, Its Treatments and Their Side Effects Survey

Dalhousie University, School of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada is studying people’s knowledge about reproductive-related cancers, their treatment options, and side effects. We are focusing on various communities affected by these diseases. Our study addresses testicular and prostate cancers in males, and breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers in females. We are interested in what patients with any of these cancers know about the other cancers. We are also interested in how some of the language about treatments is understood.

You do not need to be an expert to help out. The questionnaire is for people who are themselves, or have a family member, affected by any of these diseases. The questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete. If you are interested in helping out please click here...

Having Your Voice Heard

We want to hear from you. Did cancer, menopause, or any event in your life impact your sexual health or intimacy?

Please click here to tell us your story and to read posted stories, click here.

• Archived Journal